Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-22
BITTEN BY a RATTL Err. I
Prof. Leon Dallfed with the Reptt1
.E for Amusement. r5 I'D ss sss.

clnnatl had an experience with a live
Rocky mountain rattlesnake last even-
ing which will very likely result in the
loss Of his life, says The st. Louis Globe
Democrat Some two or three weeks
since John Sommerville, proprietor Of
q saloon at No. l16 South Seventh
street, took a fancy to a well developed
RATHER which two railroad men carried
into his saloon, we'll secured in wood
en- box with glass cover. He thought
it would be a good idea to have the
reptile in his saloon. knowing, no
doubt that he had snakes of another
variety corked up in the bottles on his
shelf. The railroad hands were not
particularly fond of the snake, and
readily accepted the offer made them
by Sommerville. He placed the case
covering the dangerous snake on a
table in his saloon, where it attracted a
good-sized crowd daily and aided
materially in swelling the receipts of
the house. Prof. Leon happened along,
and, seeing the reptile coiled, in his
corral, informed Mr.. Sommerville that Z
he could tame snakes with the same
ease and facility which he removed a
corn or bunion, killed the roots, and
prevented their reappearance upon the
feet OF their victims. MI Sommerville
on receipt of that bit of information,
told the professor that the RATHER was
a very savage member OF the snake
family and tl>at it would rather bite
people than eat. Prof Leon replied
that there was no science in train
ing harmless snakes, and added
the more savage and dangerous the :
better. He called at the saloon
daily and convinced the dispenser
OF drinks that he was not afraid of the
snake, caressed it, stroked its shiny
cuticle, and manifested in other ways
that the RATHER was not as bad as he
was pictured. In handling his snake
ship the professor was very cautious
not to place his hands near the mouth.
He called freqently and seemed to be-
come better acquainted with the Rocky
mountain terror with each visit. MI.
Sommerville appreciated the services
Of the chlropodist and placed the best
drinks the house afforded at his dispos-
al. Last evening Prof. Leon's expert
ence demonstrated the truth OF the old
time-honored saying: "It's Il long lane
that has no turning:'' He had beard
ed the snake in his den daily for nearly
weeks without so much as getting 4
scratch or rebuff from the captive
reptile. Last evening between and
o'clock, he walked into the saloon in
company with Il friend, said to be an
attache Of the Crystal Palace theater.
and told the proprietor that he would
remove the snakes fangs, and make
him perfectly harmless, so much so that
the children could caress it with impu-
nifty, and that without any fear as to
the consequences From all accounts
Icons friend argued that it would be
foolish to undertake it, and tried to
intention. The little party in the mean-
time took a few drinks. Leon insisted
that there was no danger, and III sing
the cover watched for an opportunity
to seize the reptile, which lay coiled in
the corner CT its prison. Getting his
left thumb and right index finger in
position, he told the spectators to watch
him and that they would soon see the
snake deprived of his dangerous pos
session. His idea was no doubt to
sieze the reptile or. both sides
Of its head and thus keep it's
mouth open until the fangs could be
extracted. What happened is told in q
few words. He thrust his thumb and
finger in the snakes mouth, and be-
fore he could withdraw them the We
nonous serpent fastened its fangs in
the flesh. Whether the snake raised its
head when the professor made the at
tempt to keep it from biting, or whether
the disaster was due to his nervous
ness, no one could tell. When he jerked
his hand from the box the snake had
a tight hold on his flesh and was lifted
almost bodily from the box. The blood
trickled in three streams from the
poisoned wounds. and Leon. who had
turned deathly pale, asked for whisky
to counteract the effects of the poison.
The proprietor had bottle on the
counter in an instant and poured a
goodsized drink into the sufferer.
Icons friend hurri ed for a physician
and returned with DR.. Coryell. The
latter applied the usual remedies and
bandaged the wounds. Leon soon be-
came very sick, and he was delirious
in fifteen minutes after he had been
bitten. He tore the bandages from his
fingers and when asked if he would
go to the hospital positively refused
to be taken there. An ambulance was
summoned and in company with. sew
eral friends, be was taken there, much
against his will. Leon seemed to grow
better after bis arrival at the hospital,
and he stated to one of the physicians
that he had been bitten before. There
is no doubt that the poison has entered
his system, but the physicians at the
hospital state that there is some hone
for his recovery. He is so years of
age, and has been engaged tor some
time in selling corn remedies on street
corners.
!. A Crawhsh in His Knee. ~
IL :